Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Stanford University, Asian American Activities Center, records

creator:
Stanford University. Asian American Activities
Center

Identifier/Call Number: SC0487

Physical Description:
42.75 Linear Feet

Date (inclusive): circa 1970-2017

Abstract: The collection
includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes, proposals, course materials, financial records,
newspaper clippings, subject files, flyers, photos, publications and other records
pertaining to the history and recent activities of Stanford Asian American students, staff,
faculty and alumni. Included are materials pertaining to Asian American Studies, the Asian
American Activities Center and its affiliated student organizations as well as historic
materials documenting early student efforts to establish these organizations and programs.
These materials would be useful to those seeking information about the history of the
Stanford Asian American community/Asian American student organizations/or significant events
that helped to establish and shape the community.

Language of Material: The materials
are in English.

Custodial History

The materials were gathered and organized by the Asian American Activities Center and
transferred to the Archives in 1995, 1997, 2003, 2010, 2015, and 2016.

Information about Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in
advance of intended use.

Ownership & Copyright

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Cite As

[Identification of item], Stanford University, Asian American Activities Center, Records
(SC0487), Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University
Archives, Stanford, Calif.

Historical Note:

Early History Asian and Asian American students have been a part of Stanford history
beginning with the inaugural class in 1891. The Japanese Students Association and the
Chinese Students Association were founded in the early 1900s as the first Asian and Asian
American voluntary student organizations. In 1913, the first professor of Asian decent,
Yamato Ichihashi, was hired in the history department. Racial tensions resulted in the
establishment of the Japanese Clubhouse (1916) and the Chinese Clubhouse (1919) as safe
residences for students of Asian descent.

In 1942, 24 students of Japanese descent and Professor Ichihashi and his wife were removed
from campus and sent to internment camps as a result of Executive Order 9066.

1960's and 1970's During the period of the Civil Rights Movement, Asian American students
began to organize and advocate for their needs. The Asian American Student Alliance, which
later bacame the Stanford Students Coordinating Committee and now the Asian American
Students' Association, formed in 1969. That same year, inspired by Black Student Union
protests following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, Asian American students
started a petition for Asian American Studies.

An Asian American theme dorm, Junipero which became Okada House, was established in 1971,
followed by the People's Teahouse, which became the Okada Teahouse and Teahouse. In 1975,
the Asian American New Student Orientation Committee was established to introduce new
students to the community. The Asian American Sourcebook and Big Brother/Big Sibling Program
(which became Big Sib/Little Sib) followed as well as the Asian American Theater Project
founded by then student David Henry Hwang.

In 1977, the Asian American Activities Center is established in the Old Fire Truck House
and staffed by volunteer student interns (the precursor to the Center was the Asian American
Resource Center that was housed in Junipero in the early 1970's).

1980's In 1982, four Stanford students were featured on the cover of Newsweek with a
headline, "Asian-Americans: The Drive to Excel," feeding misperceptions of Asian Americans
as the "model minority."

In 1986, an undergraduate student, Jeffrey Au, raised questions about Asian American
admissions which prompted a study by the Academic Senate Committee which found "unconscious
bias" affected admissions rates for Asian Americans. Immediately following rates of
admission increased dramatically.

In 1987, students form the Rainbow Agenda issue demands, including the
institutionalization of the Center. Julian Low is hired as a half-time Director and Elsa
Tsutaoka is the office manager.

With the growth of the Asian American student population, the first wave of diverse Asian
American student organizations were founded from 1988-89. Following the student Take Over of
the President's Office, the Asian American Activities Center was instutionalized and the
first full time director, Rick Yuen, was hired. Also as a result of the Take Over, in 1990,
two Asian American Studies faculty were hired, Gordon Chang and David Palumbo-Liu, and the
first Asian American Studies courses were offered the following year.

Organizations founded during this period include: Chinese Folk Dance, Stanford University
Nikei (now Japanese Student Union), Stanford Vietnamese Association (now Stanford Vietnamese
Students Association), Stanford Wushu, Hong Kong Student Association, Korean Students
Association (which became Korean American Students Association before reverting back to
Korean Students Association), Stanford "K" Club of India (now Sanskriti), the Thai-American
Intercultural Society,the Undergraduate Chinese American Association, the Pilipino American
Student Union (although there was a Filipino Student Union in the early 1070's), the
Taiwanese American Students Association (now Taiwanese Cultural Society), Asian American
Women's Group (which became Stanford Asian Women), the Asian Law Students Association (now
the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association), Asian American Medical Students (now
Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association).

In 1994 Chicana students went on a hunger strike to demand the reinstatement of a senior
Chicana adminisrator, the establishment of an ethnic studies program and a grape boycott.
Asian American students disrupt a faculty senate meeting demanding Asian American Studies.
The Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity is esstablished, followed by the
creation of the Asian American Studies program in 1997.

In 1995 the Mibority Alumni Hall of Fame is established by the ethnic community centers to
recognize the contributions of outstanding alumni of color.

In 1996 the Queer and Asian student organization was founded to provide a safe space for
students to explore issues concerning the Asian American and LGBT identities.

2000 to Present As the Asian American student population became more diverse, new student
organizations were established including: the Multiracial Identified Community at Stanford
(there was a Half Asian Peoples Association in the late 1980's), Malaysians at Stanford,
Pakistanis at Stanford, Muslim Student Awareness Network, Bhangra, Hindi Film Dance,
Stanford Asian American Activist Committee, Noopor, Kayumanggi, Sigma Psi Zeta.

The Center offers a new Speaker Series focused on underrepresented Filipino, Southeast
Asian and South Asian ethnicities. In 2004 students protest at the Dean of Admissions Office
to demand an increase in Filipino and Southeast Asian student outreach and admissions.

In 2006 the Center convened a Task Force to study mental health concerns for Asian
American students. A survey was conducted in 2007 and results led to the creation of the
After Dark (now iLive) program focusing on Asian American mental health and well-being
issues.

In 2007 the Hmong Student Union and Stanford Khmer Association were established.

Year

API Historical Event

API Historical Event Description

Stanford Event

Stanford Event Description

1763

Settlement of Filipino Americans

First recorded settlement of Filipinio Americans. They escaped imprisonment
aboard Spanish galleons in New Orleans and fled to the bayous.

1790

Naturalization Act

The Natualization Act made it law that only "free white persons" could become
US citizens.

1790

US-India slave trade

First recorded arrival of an Asian Indian in the U.S. They were slaves who
were part of the U.S. - India slave trade.

1848

Gold Rush Begins

Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill and word spreads of "Gold Mountain"
encouraging many Chinese to emigrate to the US through San Francisco, settling in
Sacramento.

1865

Chinese Railroad laborers

Central Pacific Railraod Co. recruits Chinese workers for the first
transcontinental railroad. 9,000 of the 10,000 laborers for the project were
Chinese.

1882

Chinese Exclusion Act

Suspends immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years and excludes Chinese
from citizenship by naturalization and halts Chinese immigration for 60
years.

1891

Representation in Stanford's Pioneer Class

The first annual Stanford register lists 7 students with Asian surnames out
of the 555 students in the Pioneer Class.

1898

Annexation of Hawai'i

U.S. annexes Hawaii after 160 American armed marines land in Honolulu.
Hawai'I later becomes the state with the highest concentration of Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders.

1902

Japanese Students Association Founded

With an enrollment of 30 students, the Japanese Students Association formed
to build a supportive community for Japanese nationals and US born students of
Japanese decent.

1906

The Great San Francisco Earthquake

A magnitue 7.8 earthquake hits San Francisco sparking fires that destroy over
80% of the city. The loss of government records allows for the entry of "paper
sons" from China who were allowed to enter based on forged birth certificates
claiming their fathers resided in the US.

1910

Angel Island

Established as a detention center for Asian non-laboring classes desiring
entry into the U.S. Thousands of immigrants from China endure weeks and even years
of interrogation by US immigration officers. The center serves as the "Ellis
Island of the West" until 1940.

Chinese Students Association Founded

Chinese students both American born and from China gathered together to
support each other at Stanford.

1913

First Professor of Asian Decent

Yamato Ichihashi began teaching in the History department specializing in
Japanese history, international relations, and the Japanese American experience.
By the 1920s, he was appointed Associate Professor and is believed to be the first
person of Asian decent to have held an endowed chair position at an American
university.

1916

Tensions in Campus Housing

A student of Chinese decent was physically thrown out of the residences at
Encina Hall by white male students. This action prompted the Chinese and Japanese
communities at Stanford to raise funds to establish residences on campus for their
students.

1916

Establishment of Japanese Clubhouse

Japanese Students establish the Japanese Clubhouse on Santa Ynez Street. The
clubhouse provided a safe home for students of Japanese ancestry on campus until
the start of WWII.

1919

Establishment of the Chinese Clubhouse

Chinese community establishes the Stanford Chinese Clubhouse located on
Salvatierra where the law school currently stands. Much like a present day row
house, the residence included housing for current students as well as a kitchen
and lounge for community gatherings.

1929

Anti-Filipino Violence

As the Filipino population increases. Anti-Filipino riots and murders occur
up and down the West Coast.

1935

Filipino Repatriation Act

Offers to pay the way back to the Philippines for Filipinos choosing to go.
2000 Filipinos leave.

1942

Executive Order 9066: Japanese American Internment

Puts 120,000 Japanese (primarily U.S. citizens) in 10 concentration
camps.

Students & Faculty of Japanese Decent Sent to Internment Camps

President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the
wartime internment of 120,000 U.S. citizens and residents of Japanese ancestry. At
the time 24 students with Japanese surnames were enrolled at Stanford and were
forced to leave along with Professor Yamato Ichihashi and wife Kei who remained in
the camps until the end of the war.

1944

Korematsu vs. US

Supreme court rules that Executive Order 9066 ) constitutional.

1965

National Origins Act

Raises Asian immigration to 20,000 per year for Asian countries, the same as
European countries. The new act favors educated middle class immigrants therby
changing the class dynamics of the Asian American community.

1965 - 1973

Vietnam War

US involvement in the Vietnam War. The draft began for all males born between
1944-1950. Nationwide college students protested the war following the fatal
shootings at Kent State in 1970.

Stanford Campus Vietnam Protests

Students and faculty protest Stanford's policy on Selective Service
examinations and classified research including Stanford Research Institute's work
on chemical weapons. By 1970 the Board of Trustees voted to sever ties with
SRI.

1967

Coining of the term "Asian American"

Yuji Ichioka, a UCLA scholar, coined the term to bring diverse Asian groups
together as he formed the first pan-Asian American political group - the Asian
American Political Alliance. Previously people of Asian decent were referred to as
Asiatic or Oriental.

1969

Asian American Student Alliance (later known as the Asian American Students'
Association) Formed

AASA was formed to help Asian Americans meet and understand more about each
other though social and cultural programs and to bring attention to Asian American
student needs on campus. | People's Disco; National coalition for redress and
reparations for Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII; students seek
minority status for Asians at Stanford (1981)

1969

The fight for Asian American Studies at Stanford Begins

Following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., students from the
Black Student Union interrupted an address by Provost Richard Lyman and presented
a set of demands which led to the establishment of the program in African and
Afro-American Studies. Inspired by this action, Asian American students start a
petition for Asian American Studies to develop new knowledge and understanding of
the Asian community and experience and above all, to cultivate self-awareness
among the Asian American student body.

1971

Asian American Theme Dorm Established

Junipero House founded as the Asian American Theme Dorm to foster Asian
American ethnic and cultural understanding within a residential setting.
Anthropology Professor Harumi Befu is the first Resident fellow. An Asian American
Resource center was housed in Junipero until space became available in the
Firetruck house in 1977.

1971

The first Asian American Studies Course

Gordon Chang, a then-graduate student in History, teaches the first Asian
American Studies course offered under the student led Stanford Workshops on
Political and Social Issues (SWOPSI).

1974

The People's Teahouse

Students establish a non-profit student-run organization that donates funds
to worth-while Asian American related projects and groups on campus and in the
surrounding community.

1975

The Fall of Saigon

The official end of the Vietnam War signaled the arrival of large numbers of
Vietnamese refugees in the US. Over 700,000 refugees from Southeast Asia settled
in the US during a ten year span.

Asian American New Student Orientation Committee Established

Established by students to welcome incoming Asian American students and to
introduce them to the activities, organizations, and aspirations of the Asian
American community at Stanford. Started the Asian American Sourcebook and Big
Brother / Big Sibling Program.

1977

I-Hotel Evictions

Eviction of elderly Filipino and Chinese tenants from International Hotel in
San Francisco

Asian American Activities Center Established

Asian American Activities Center is located at the Old Fire Truck House and
staffed entirely by volunteer student interns.

1978

Asian American Theater Project Established

To help shape a more realistic image of Asian Americans in theater and to
present relevant Asian American works.

1981

Okada House Founded

The Asian American Theme dorm moved from Junipero House to Madera in Wilbur
Hall and was renamed Okada House in honor of John Okada (1924-1971), pioneer Asian
American artist and author of the novel No-No Boy. The dorm is home to 96 students
40% Asian American.

1982

Vincent Chin and National Asian American Identity

Chinese American Vincent Chin was murdered in Detroit at the height of
layoffs in the US auto industry due to increasing Japanese imports. Asian American
groups around the country rallied to classify the murder as a hate crime and to
build coaltions to push for Federal prosecution. This fuels a national Asian
American movement.

Model Minority Newsweek Cover

The magazine Newsweek On Campus features 4 Stanford students posing in the
Quad under the headline "Asian-Americans: The Drive to Excel" feeding
misperceptions of Asian Americans as the "Model Minority"

1986

Admissions Policy Questioned

Prompted by the questions raised to Dean of Admissions Jean Fetter by
Stanford Junior Jeffrey Au, the Academic Senate Committee conducts a study of
Asian American admissions. The committee finds that "unconscious bias" caused the
discrepancy in admissions rates and immediately following the report, admissions
rates for Asian American students increased to 89 percent of the white admission
rate.

1987

Rainbow Agenda & Institutionalizing the Community Centers

Students form the Rainbow Agenda (including AASA, MEChA, SAIO, BSU) propose a
set of demands including the institutionalization of the Asian American Activities
Center and the hiring of a full time Director/Dean; Julian Low becomes the first
half time Director of the new department and Elsa Tsutaoka is the office
manager.

1987-1988

Western Culture Curriculum Debate

Students rallied to change the required first year Western Cultures course
that included predominantly works of European-Western authors advocating instead
for a curriculum that included ethnic minority and women authors. Reverend Jesse
Jackson led a march down Palm Drive with over 200 students chanting "Hey hey, ho
ho, Western Civ has got to go," and the curriculum debate drew national media
attention. In 1989 Western Cultures was replaced by a new course for freshmen,
Cultures, Ideas, & Values (CIV), that included works on race, class, and
gender.

1988

Students of Color Coalition

The Students of Color Coalition leads a rally against racism from White Plaza
to the Quad to present a platform for multicultural education at Stanford.

1988 - 1989

Founding of Many API Student Organizations

As the Asian American student population grows, new student organizations
representing the breath of diversity within the community flourish. Chinese Folk
Dance, Stanford University Nikkei, Stanford Vietnamese Association, Stanford
Wushu, Hong Kong Student Association, Korean Students Association, Pilipino
American Students Association, Stanford "K"lub of India (Sanskriti), the
Thai-American Intercultural Society, and the Undergraduate Chinese American
Association were all founded during this time.

1989

University Committee on Minority Issues

Formed in response to the demands of the student led Rainbow Agenda, the
President and Provost form the University Committee on Minority Issues. The UCMI
report outlines recommendations for: diversifying curriculum; minority faculty
recruitment, retention & promotion; student admissions and financial aid;
student life; and staff recruitment, retention & promotion.

1989

Takeover of the President's Office

Students take over President Donald Kennedy's Office with a list of 120
demands including Asian American Studies at Stanford, chanting… "JUST ONE ASIAN
AMERICAN HISTORY PROFESSOR". Kennedy releases a statement to the press saying "We
confirm that many minority issues and concerns are not the special pleadings of
interest groups but are Stanford issues--ones that should engage all of us" and
states goal to hire 30 minority faculty in the following decade.

1989

Asian American Activities Center Institutionalized with First Full Time
Director

The Asian American Activities center is institutionalized through funding
from the Dean of Student Affairs which enables the hiring of the first full time
director Rick Yuen.

1990

Report on Building Multicultural University Community

As a follow up to the UCMI report, the Annual Review Panel released an
assessment with recommendations to: institutionalize multiculturalism as a
university value; incorporate multicultural goals in internal planning processes;
and increase institutional accountability through an Internal University Minority
Audit Group composed of faculty, staff, senior administrators and
students.

1990

Asian American Studies Courses offered

Professors Gordon Chang and David Palumbo-Liu are the first to be appointed
as tenure-track Asian American Studies scholars. The following year, Asian
American Studies scholars offer a core curriculum consisting of five Asian
American Studies courses, as a result of collaborative efforts of Profs. Chang,
Palumbo-Liu, Sylvia Yanagisako , and Bill Hing.

Asian American Activities Center Professional Staff Increases to Two Full
Time Positions

Cindy Ng is hired as the second full time professional staff member at the
Asian American Activities Center starting as a Program Coordinator.

1992

Los Angeles Riots

After the acquittal of the white LAPD officers who were filmed beating black
motorist Rodney King, one of the biggest riots begins in LA. For days, massive
violence, destruction, and looting erupts throughout the city. Over 2000
Korean-owned business are destroyed.

Aftermath of the LA Riots

Jesse Jackson speaks at Memorial Auditorium on the issue of Anti-Asian
violence following the Los Angeles Riots.

1993

Support for Ethnic Community Centers

In response to potential budget cuts to the ethnic community centers,
students hold a speak out in White Plaza, titled “Bridging the Gap Between
Rhetoric and Reality

1993

Asian American Interactive Mentoring Program Established

Responding to the UCMI report findings, the Asian American Activities Center
establishes the first mentoring program for undergraduate students at Stanford
focused on support and retention with a lens of cultural understanding. Faculty,
staff, and alumni sign up to mentor sophomore students through the program.

1993 -1994

Ethnic Center Staff Equity

Assistant Directors in the ethnic community centers were reclassified and
received pay increases following an investigation into equity to bring them on par
with the Assistant Directors in the Office of Student Activities.

1994

Opportunities and Challenges

In response to the request for budget cut scenarios, the ethnic community
centers submit a report making a case for further investment instead of cuts,
highlighting the increased demand for services from the community centers given
the diverse student body.

1994

Concerned Students for Asian American Studies

Concerned Students for Asian American Studies members disrupt a Faculty
Senate meeting, demanding consideration for an Asian American Studies Program. It
is the first time that a Faculty Senate meeting is prematurely adjourned. The
following year an Asian American Studies Curriculum Committee is formed and
charged with developing a curriculum for an Asian American Studies major and
minor.

1994

Four Chicano students go on hunger strike

Hunger strikers demand reinstatement of a senior Chicana administrator, the
establishment of a Chicano Studies program and a grape boycott on campus. Students
from AASA, BSU and SAIO join in support of the strikers.

1994

Increased Funding for Ethnic Centers

In response to events throughout the year, Provost Condelezza Rice approves
an increase of 25K in soft funding for each of the four ethnic community centers.
The funding was granted on a 2year renewable basis.

1994

Racial Profiling of Asian American youth

In an Orange county community where the majority population is white, Asian
families protest against a mug book which keeps records of suspected gang members
living in the city of Westminster. Over 70% of those profiled were Asian
American.

Alternative Spring Break

The first Asian American focused ASB trips "Asian American Issues: From
Identity to Action" and "The Challenge of Identity: The Filipino-American in
California" were created to introduce students to the needs of various communities
through direct service, experiential learning, discussion, and reflection.

1994

Task Force on Minority Alumni Relations

Provost Condoleeza Rice established the Task Force to “develop fundamental
recommendations for improving the level of engagement between the University and
its alumni of color.” Over two years, the Task Force indexed diversity resources
for students and alumni, surveyed minority alumni perspectives, and explored
campus issues of potential interest to minority alumni. As a direct result of the
Task Force report in 1996 the Alumni Association created the Volunteer
Clearinghouse to encourage minority alumni engagement with the University.

1995

Minority Alumni Hall of Fame Established

Stanford's ethnic community centers established the Alumni Hall of Fame to
recognize the contributions of the University's outstanding alumni of color in an
awards ceremony during Reunion Homecoming Weekend.

The Faculty Senate unanimously approves the establishment of the CCSRE
department offering majors and minors in race and ethnic studies with a
comparative focus.

1996

Listen to the Silence

Annual conference open to students throughout the Bay Area and the country
that addresses pressing issues in the Asian American community and brings
representatives from local community groups to campus to educate participants
about these issues.

1996

Queer and Asian group Established

Stanford's first student group focused on providing a welcoming and safe
space for Stanford students to engage in issues concerning the API and LGBTQ
identities.

1996

Funding for Ethnic Centers Renewed

Staff of the four ethnic community centers submit the "Report to the Provost
on the Special Allocation to the Ethnic Community Centers for Recuitment,
Retention, and Cultural Programming". Following the report, the 25K in soft
funding is renewed for each center for another cycle.

1997

Anti-Asian Hate Crimes on the rise

The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium reports 534 suspected
and confirmed anti-Asian hate crime incidents, an increase from 458 in the
previous year.

Anti-Asian Hate Crimes on campus

Derogatory racial epithets are found in the A3C in two separate incidents.
"Chink" was written in red felt pen on a computer monitor in the couchroom, and
mustard was used to write "Fuck you chink" inside the refrigerator.

1997

Asian American Studies Program Established

After more than 25 years of student struggle and protest, beginning January
1, 1997, students are now able to major in Asian American Studies. History Prof.
Gordon Chang is appointed the first director for the program.

1999

Leading through Education Activism and Diversity Program Established

Established as a collaborative effort by the ethnic community centers, the
LEAD program provided training for student leaders using the Social Change model
for leadership development. Alumni of the program went on to serve as ASSU
presidents, national scholars, and student group leaders. The program continued
for a decade until eliminated due to budget cuts in 2010.

1999

Spy Allegations: the Dr. Wen Ho Lee case

A researcher of Los Alamos National Laboratory is accused of being a spy and
responsible for the leaks concerning W88 weapons systems.

Racist Email Sent Across Campus

An email purported to come from a Stanford graduate student of Asian decent
was sent to over 25,000 accounts that included offensive hate speech. Asian
American student leaders, faculty, and staff denounce the message and students, in
coalition with other ethnic community groups, advocate for a policy against hate
crimes on campus.

2000

Cultural Awareness Associates

Students participating in the LEAD project called for the creation of
Cultural Awareness Associates in the residences to promote cross cultural dialogue
and awareness for all Stanford students. The first four CAA positions began 2002.

2000

Concerned Students for Community Centers

Students gather to fom the Concerned Students for Community Centers and
submitted a proposal to newly appointed University Provost John Etchemendy
requesting increased funding, space and maintenance for the centers.

2001

Stabilizing Funding for Ethnic Centers

President John Hennesy approved an additional 15K in soft funding for the
community centers. In later years he would approve a conversion of the initial 25K
to hard funding and added an additional 25K to each center's budget.

2001

9/11 Attacks & Aftermath

Following the terrorist attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, Arab Americans
and South Asians encounter hostile discrimination and are victims of hate
crimes.

Hate Crimes in the Quad

Hate crime written in classrooms during Winter Quarter finals. They read:
"Rape all Asian b*** and dump them," "F** Sp**!", "White man is King!", "Nuke
Arabs", "N***s don't get it, this is a White only class." Police and Stanford
administrators cover up graffiti and did not disclose the threatening contents
until the Stanford Daily and San Francisco Chronicle broke the story.

2002

Abercrombie & Fitch Campaign

Stanford students launch a nation-wide boycott of Abercrombie and Fitch to
protest T-shirts with stereotypical caricatures of Asians Americans, resulting in
the shirts being pulled from stores.

2002-2004

Increasing Diversity in Student Organizations

New student organizations emerge representing not only increased ethnic
diversity but also socio-political diversity in the community. New groups include
the Stanford Asian American Activism Committee, the Multiracial Identified
Community at Stanford, Malaysians at Stanford, Pakistanis at Stanford, Muslim
Student Awareness Network, Bhangra,Hindi Film Dance, Noopor, Kayumanggi, and the
sorority Sigma Psi Zeta as well as many others.

2003

Books Not Bombs

Students march, rally, and conduct a teach-in calling for Books Not Bombs at
the Quad to protest impending US military action in Iraq.

2003-2004

Focus on Filipino, Vietnamese & South Asian Students

The Asian American Activities Center launches new Speaker Series focused on
smaller Filipino, Vietnamese and South Asian communities.

After serving as the Assistant Director for 13 years, Cindy Ng was promoted
to Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Asian American Activities Center
after former Director Rick Yuen transitioned to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Shelley Tadaki '00, MA'03 was hired as the new Associate Director

2004

Task Force on Minority Alumni Relations Report

In recognition of the increasingly diverse alumni community and the growing
diversity of the student body, the Board of Trustees convened a second Task Force
on Minority Alumni Relations in 2001. The group researched alumni perceptions and
concerns and released a report in 2004 encouraging University leadership to:
increase minority alumni participation in leadership roles throught the
University; cultivate minority alumni as donors; and increase faculty diversity.
Stanford's first ever Minority Alumni Conference was held at the time the report
was released. | "Filipino Leaders Eye on the Future", South Asian Women Leaders in
Focus, and Vietnamese Leaders Series

2004

Refugee Resettlement

The most recent wave of Hmong refugees arrives from Wat Tham Krabok in
Thailand after the closure of the last refugee camps.

Advancing Diversity in Asian American Admissions

Over forty students stage a protest at Dean of Admissions Robin Mamlet’s
office to demand an increase in Filipino and Southeast Asian American student
outreach and admissions acceptances.

2004

Anti-Hmong Sentiment Builds

Hmong hunter, Chai Vang, is charged with six counts of murder and two counts
of attempted murder after being caught trespassing and returning fire. Racial
slurs against Hmong proliferate in the mid-east in response. Vang is found guilty
of all counts and sentenced to 6 life sentences.

2005

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina hits the US Gulf Coast. Approximately 400,000 residents
were displaced including many Vietnamese Americans who faced property loss,
elimination of their fishing businesses, and for some, a return of PTSD symptoms
triggered by similarites to their refugee experience in coming to the US.

9066/911: Community & Identity in Wartime America

The Asian American Activities Center marks the 5th Anniversary of 9/11 with a
panel titled, From 9066 to 9/11, featuring leaders of the Muslm community,
Japanese American community, and Civil Rights leaders who discussed parallels
between anti-Japanese hysteria during WW II and anti Muslim, Sikh hysteria post
9/11.

2006

Chinese Alumni Club Commemoration

George Leong '47 and fellow Chinese Clubhouse alumni raise funds to support
the Asian American Acticities Center which carries on the sense of place that was
so important to them as students in the 1940s. Funds go to furnish the Old Union
Clubhouse Ballroom and a plaque is installed recognizing the contributions of the
Chinese alumni.

2006

First Generation Experience for Stanford Students

Recognizing unique challenges faced by first generation college students, the
Asian American Activities Center takes the lead in hosting the first student panel
during admit weekend focused on the "First Generation Student Experience at
Stanford".

2006

Asian American Student Health & Well Being Study

The Asian American Activities Center convened a Task Force to examine mental
health concerns for Asian American students after several suicides. The following
year, a first of it's kind survey was sent out to all self-identified Asian
American students gathering information on health & well being as well as help
seeking behavior. Findings led to the establishment of the After Dark Program at
the Asian American Activities Center focusing on mental health concerns.

2006

Okada House Targeted with Racial Slurs

After imposter student Azia Kim was discovered, Okada house residents are
targets of anti-asian attacks and racist reactions including fraternities shouting
"F---Okada" and "Azia Kim" in mock Asian accents; Asian American female residents
were harassed as if they were Azia Ki; a member of a fraternitiy urinated on the
dorm front lawn as others yelled "F---Okada". Resident staff and student leaders
of the Asian American community stood up for themselves and filed an Acts of
Intolerance complaint resulting in disciplinary action. Also, the following year
an ill-humored ASSU t-shirt mocking the mental health of Azia Kim was pulled after
Asian American student leaders protested the use of student fees forsuch a design.

2007

Sweat Free Stanford

Students from the Stanford Asian American Activism Committee launch a
campaign urging the University to join the Worker Rights Consortium and adopt a
manufacturing Code of Conduct guaranteeing workers of factories producing Stanford
apparel basic human rights. In May, students sit-in at the President's Office and
11 students are arrested. The protest resulted in Stanford joining the
WRC.

2007

Anti-Hmong Violence

Cha Vang is killed in a hunting accident. An all white jury charges his
killer, James Nichols with second degree intentional homicide rather than the
original first degree murder. Questions of whether this was a retaliation killing
for Chai Vang's case a few years earlier arise.

Homg Student Union and Stanford Khmer Association Established

As a result of the student push for increased outreach to the Southeast Asian
community, the first Hmong and Khmer student groups are formed on campus providing
support for these smaller communities.

2008

Statewide Hmong Issues Conference at Stanford

Students from the Hmong Student Union host the first Statewide Hmong Issues
Conference to be held at Stanford, drawing an auidence of over 200 from all areas
of the State to campus to explore history, culture and issues facing the Hmong
community.

Students gather to revive the Concerned Students for the Community Centers to
hold meetings and rallies to protest planned cuts to staffing and funding of
centers.

2009

Cuts to the Community Centers Programs & Staffing

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Greg Boardman announced $3M in cuts to the
Student Affairs division as part of the two year planned $100M cut to the
University Budget. Boardman cited "health and wellbeing, academic success or
achievement, risk management and compliance mandates" as priority areas in
deciding on cuts and all community centers suffered cuts in program funds to
varying degress. In 2010, professional staff of all centers were reduced from FTE
to 10-2 with half time status & benefits for two months of the summer. One
month was restored in 2011, bringing the staff to an 11-1 schedule.

2011

Racist UCLA Girl

Alexandra Wallace, a junior political science major at UCLA posts a Youtube
video entitled "Asians in the Library" the same day the earthquake and tsunami hit
in Japan. In the video, Wallace imitates "the hordes of Asian people" at UCLA and
mocked them for talking on the phone in the library with phrases like "Ohhhh!
Ching chong ling long ting tong!". UCLA's Asian Pacific Coalition called for the
University to discipline Wallace for using "hate speech" and violating the student
code of conduct and after the University announced that it will not take action
against Wallace for the video, she announces publicly that she will no longer
attend UCLA in an apology letter.

2012

Research Project on Chinese Railroad Workers

Two Stanford faculty, Gordon Chang and Shelley Fishkin, launch a multi-year
transnational research project involving an international team of academics to
document and explore the experience of Chinese railroad workers in
America.

2012

Asian American Activities Center Staff Changes

After a year long national search, Jerald Adamos was hired as the third
Associate Director of the Asian American Activities Center following the departure
of former Associate Director Shelley Tadaki.

2012

Pew Report: The Rise of Asian Americans

The Pew Research Center publishes the findings of a study on Asian Americans
entitled “The Rise of Asian Americans,” that gives attention to an often
misunderstood racial group, but ignores the tremendous social and economic
diversity within Asian American communities. The report notes that "Asian
Americans are the most educated" and "has the highest median household income" but
does not disaggregate data by different ethnic groups as captured from the U.S.
Census Bureau. The report perpetuates the misunderstandings of API's that policy
makers still can not fully address in regards to the educational, economic, and
social service needs of America’s fastest growing racial group.

2012

Gordon Chang & David Palumbo-Liu named to Endowed Chairs

Professors Gordon Chang is named the Oliver H. Palmer Professor in Humanities
and David Palumbo-Liu is named the Louise Hewlett Nixon Professor.

Visiting Professor Joel Brinkley writes an op-ed article in the Chicago
Tribune recapping his experience in Vietnam stating the country is "gruesome" and
"aggressive" with a backwards diet of endangerded animals. As many challenge his
article, he responds stating "After all half of Laotian children grow up stunted,
even today. In Cambodia the rate is 40 percent. That means they grow up short and
not so smart". Students from the Stanford Vietnamese Student Association write a
letter to administrators with the support of over 15 student organizations to have
him reviewed.

2013

Chair of Faculty Senate

David Palumbo-Liu, the Louise Hewlett Nixon Professor is elected as the chair
of Stanford's 46th Faculty Senate, making him the second person of color in the
institutions's history to hold this position.

Scope and Content Note:

The collection includes materials pertaining to the history and recent activities of the
Stanford Asian American community, including the Asian American Activities Center and the
student organizations affiliated with the Center. Materials pertaining to the following
organizations are included in the collection: Asian American Students Association, Asian
American Big Sib Little Sib, Okada Teahouse, Stanford Workshops on Political and Social
Issues (SWOPSI), Rainbow Coalition, Stanford Hong Kong Students Association, Chinese Folk
Dance, Asian American Christian Fellowship, Stanford Vietnamese Students Association, Aisan
Law Students Association, Asian American Medical Students, Korean American Students
Association, Korean Students Association, East Coast Asian Student Union, Asian American
Premeds, Asian Pacific Student Union, Stanford Hawaii Club, Asian American Women's Group,
Stanford Asian Women, Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club, Asian Pacific Americans
in Higher Education, Lambda Phi Epsilon, Asian American Alternative Spring Break, Asian
Staff Forum, Concerned Students for Asian American Studies, Asian American New Student
Orientation.

The collection contains extensive newsclippings, flyers, articles, newsletters, memoranda,
photos and other records pertaining to: the Asian American Students Association; the 1989
student take over of the President's Office by the Agenda for Action Coalition; student
efforts to establish Asian American Studies at Stanford; and, the 1993 Japanese American
Reunion. There are also Asian Staff Forum newsletters, memoranda, and email records from
1986-1996. Also included are original minutes and photos of the Chinese Students Club,
renamed the Chinese Students Clubhouse, from 1916-1964. The collection contains student and
Center publications dating back to the 1970s, including: Fortnightly, Asian American Women's
Journal, New Winds, Winds, Asian American Bulletin, the Sourcebook, CommunicAsians, Junipero
Newsletter, Talking Stories, Asian Pacific Islander Magazine, Expressions, Asian Americans
at Stanford, 1972-73 and 1975-76, Reflections Korean American Journal, Monolid, Asian
American Activities Center brochures.

The files and materials pertaining to the Asian American Activities Center and the various
student organizations are not complete.

Arrangement note

Within each series and subseries, records are arranged as received from the Asian American
Activities Center. The first accession, transferred to the University Archives in 1995, was
arranged in nine series. Subsequent accessions were added as additional series and are
identified by accession number.